Tombstone Shadow
Background
“Tombstone Shadow” is an album track on Green River, the third LP of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The dark lyrics of the John Fogerty written blues song illustrates the threat of death.
John Fogerty got the inspiration for the piece in San Bernardino, California,(referred to as “San Berdoo” on the track) where Creedence Clearwater played a gig on February 1st, 1969. Right across the street from the hotel there was a little shop advertising "Fortune Teller". Fogerty went in and got his fortune read. “Tombstone Shadow” is a note for note replay of the experience (John Fogerty on his Twitter page, November 2011).
The song is best known for the one-note (double-tracked) guitar solo.
Collector's notes
"Tomstone Shadow" b/w "Commotion" was released as a single in the USA in 1980. Both cuts were taken from The Concert album. The 45 rpm had no cover sleeve (Peter Koers, Green River, 1999).
Live versions
Creedence Clearwater Revival played “Tombstone Shadow” in concert regularly in 1970. It also appears on The Concert album recorded at Oakland Coliseum on January 31st, 1970, and on the footage of the concert at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, in April 1970.
During his solo career, John Fogerty played “Tombstone” for the first time on the opening leg of the Premonition Tour in Indianapolis on June 13th 1998. The version had a different key, a country beat and extended guitar solo. The opening concert was the one and only time the song was heard on the Premonition Tour.
Next time Fogerty added the song onto his set list was the Deja Vu All Over the World Tour 2004-2005. He performed the song in North America fall 2004 and Europe in winter 2005. It also appears on The Long Road Home DVD.
Fogerty also delivered the song in the premiere Green River album concert at Beacon Theatre in New York on November 18th, 2011. The show was broadcast live by Sirius XM radio. Concert goers heard “Tombstone Shadow” also on the Australian tour in the following spring.
Critical reception
"'Tombstone Shadow' represents John's guitar style at its best: simple but tasty angry licks all over the place, plus a great one-note solo in the middle. So you don't have to be an Eric Clapton to play that thing, after all: hey, sometimes one note is all that matters to set a flaming groove." -George Starostin.
Fans' views
"They do it all on this one, great lyrics, perfect use of John's gritty voice, and this song contains the greatest one-note guitar solo on record!! ... one-note and John still makes it rock! ... Creedence flat out rules!!"
"Excellent guitar work ... makes use of the talents of all four band members, especially John Fogerty."
Written by John C. Fogerty.
Recorded at Studio C, Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco, CA, USA, on June 26th, 1969.
Appears on Green River album.
Released on August 3rd, 1969.